Primary Health Care

WE have all seen the images of the children and women, who have become significant victims in war-torn countries. There are other forms of war that must be considered to have long term consequences.

When we do not work together for a common good, and in fact provide resistance and possible sabotage of meaningful dialogue or solutions, we are part of the problem. WE in fact make be waging war with colleagues or potential partners. Health Care has it’s own dimension of “warfare”. There has long been the published issues of turfism, territorialism, and “power-brokerage”. This historically has been studied as “Physician” oppression of all other professions, while can be inclusive of any profession…and we see this in Nursing…multiple dimensions and multiple levels. The advent of “nurse practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses, have seen this in the hospital, public health units and community.

It is due time that this issue is addressed. WE must be willing to talk about it, and we must build on the competence to “end the war and end the casualties. The casualties are often the patient or client and families, while too often it is the health providers” who become the casualties of this silent war.

May you take the time to reflect on what you know is wrong with your work setting and begin the “peace-keeping” efforts.

I will return to this topic in time,

Thanks,

Dave